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Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2001 09:47:22 -0500
From: John Colagioia <JColagioia@csi.com>
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Subject: Re: Metamorphoses, by Emily Short
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"Brandon J. Van Every" wrote:

> "Dennis G. Jerz" <JerzDG@uwec.edu> wrote in message
> news:9a3094$9gi$1@wiscnews.wiscnet.net...
> > Probably the best way to improve as a writer is to read. A lot. Anything.
> Could help.  On the other hand, it isn't necessary.  The main way to improve
> your writing is by *writing* a lot.  If you're going to read something, read
> something about how to write.  I also find writing collaborative works with
> other people to be helpful.  It greatly reduces the excuse of "writer's
> block."

I disagree.  Reading can be far more beneficial than writing, in practicing
writing, simply because you begin to get a feel for "the meter of prose," if you
will.  That is, the phrases that seem to fit, and those that don't.

By simply writing without reading, language is likely to be either overly
idiomatic (i.e., slang) or overly formal and stilted, depending on the
individual.

Writing is necessary, but not to as significant an extent early on when wanting
to write, in my experience.


